Ice wines, my first taste

Ice wines, my first taste

Well all, I had my first taste of ice wine last night. I prefer a sweet wine and this hit the spot. We were over at a super bowl party and our friend Eric pulled a slender, tall bottle out of the fridge and poured samples for 3 of us. I was blown away, it was great. Mind you, I am not a wine drinker but loved this stuff. I believe it was Chinon Blanc. It was out of Canada and really a beautiful wine. I think it was $26. I plan on picking up a couple bottles soon.

It was likely a "Chenin Blanc" - a variety of grape suited to sweet wines. Chinon is a wine region in France, but one that is not known for dessert wines. Ice Wines, like other dessert wines that are not "fortified," derive their sweetness from a combination of ripening on the vine and concentration of the juice. In the case of wines like those from Sauterne, the botrytis fungus infects each grape, causing it to shrivel and lose moisture. This concentrates the juice. In the case of ice wines, the grapes are left on the vine during the first freeze. They partially freeze -- the water turns to ice, but concentrated juice remains in a liquid state. The grapes are pressed immediately, before the ice melts.

Dessert wines that aren't schlock can be pretty expensive -- usually over $20 and up to several hundred per bottle. But they are also some of the greatest wines on earth. Nothing like a Mogen David or jug wine, they are viscous, often have complex flavors/aromas like honey, butterscotch, grapefruit, almonds, etc. Great with nuts and fruit, but also with foie gras.

I ADORE ice wine. It is not very common to see ice wine, served in a bar or restaurant, in the NYC area. I am going to focus on some creative ideas, to motivate the serving of ice wine. Many have never heard of it, but usually enjoy it (if they like sweet wine) after tasting it.

BTW, the first annual New York Ice Wine Festival starts this week, in Fairport NY (I think there are other ice wine festivals, but this is the first year for this specific IW festival). I hope to make a visit, on my way to Buffalo.

Eiswines (icewines) made from Riesling are the standard against all others are measured. Sauterns and a few others are different in that they are made from mold infected grapes are are much rarer and expensive.

Just about all the better Finger Lakes producers make an icewine and they range in price from about 25 to 85 bucks per small bottle - and they are all good. The stuff is a delight to sip after dinner ay time you want to spoil yourself.

Ice wine is classified as a dessert wine. I usually have it an apertif glass. I worked one year for vinter to learn about wine and such.

Its quite nice, but sweet, and thus best savoured in a small amount. Usually they are white, however, Inniskillen has produced a pinkish red one that retails close to 100 dollars (CDN). I cannot afford it, but did sample some at a wine tasting.